Sunday, June 10, 2012

Cottage Style Preview and Giveaway Reminder

Since I'm helping promote the book, the wonderful people at Better Homes & Gardens have given me permission to do a little preview of the New Cottage Style book. It's hard to be completely objective, but I've shown it to quite a few people and they all seem to love the book.

Here's my dining room looking better than in real life after being styled by

My friends reaction was "Wow, it's so clean!" It's true. It almost never looks like this.

I particularly enjoyed this modern take on cottage. I love the mix of the rustic table, the Eames chairs and the modern light fixture, all in neutral tones.

The book also includes some spaces with unexpected dramatic color on walls and in draperies.

This French-inspired cottage has the most stunning lamps and

light fixtures all throughout the house.

I also love how the framed herbarium almost becomes modern art.

And there's lots of airy spaces with the bright, fresh colors of summertime.

There's a little something for everyone in this book. I've thumbed through it at least ten times and each time I find something new. There's both tons of inspiration and/or lots of pretty rooms you could straight up copy.

More than 100 of you have already signed up so, as promised, I'll be giving away FOUR copies of the book. I'll cut off comments at 8:00 Thursday evening and draw four winners randomly.

36 comments:

The pictures look amazing! I had the honor of having Michel Partenio photograpoh my house and you are so right - he does such a wonderful job. I too could not believe it was my house when I saw the pictures.

I have never noticed the base of your dining table. I think it is gorgeous. Your take on "cottage style" is fabulous. I think the modern art keeps it from being sweet and the antiques and rustic items keep it welcoming. I like that balance.

Hi. Loving this preview. These are all amazing inspiration because they are all so different. I love the dark walls in the dining nook, and I agree on the modern light and chairs at the kitchen table. I'm looking forward to seeing all the lighting in the French inspired cottage you mentioned.

I love all the photos you chose, and your dining room looks fabulous! I can't wait to see the book in real life. I hope I win a copy ... I'll go now to enter the giveaway (I never win anything, but maybe I'll get lucky). Claudia

After getting my copy on Friday, I have paged through it several times!It's so true, that every time I look at it, I see more.I loved the photos of your home and even though there were several pages, I wished it never ended!:D - Cindi

Hey Steve - Thanks for scanning for us! Enjoyed the first glimpses, and looking forward to getting this book. I love that piece of art on your dining room wall. Is that oil pastel? And, the built-ins...did you have those installed? Great photo! Congrats!Loi

Thanks for including the picture of the rustic wood dining table with Eames chairs. I am challenging myself to find a way to incorporate these or other mid-century molded-type chairs in my kitchen dining area in our new house. Although it won't be cottage style, this is giving me a confidence boost that I can make it work (we're more "new trad").

First, don't forget to pick me...and even if you don't I'm buying the book. I love a book that after going through page by page you can go back and see things you missed. It's all the little details that add up to a great looking room or corner. Your dining room looks fabulous and of course I recognized it immediately. But where are those paint brushes...I thought they would make it in the shoot.

I love the attention to detail, stunning!It's always enjoyable to check into your blog to see what you're doing with that pretty house of yours. Although ours is dated 1770, we haven't had to do anything to it because someone else did the hard work 23 years ago - still, inspiration for "one day" when things do need doing is always good, and you certainly provide that ;)

Oh...good Lord...how did I miss this giveaway? Of did I and just not win. Poo.That 4th picture was on a blog many years ago and I remember that she got that white bench at Ikea.....I was so wanting it but it was discontinued. That should be illegal. Love how your dining room turned out...guess I will have to fork over the jack and buy it.

About Me

Guys like nice houses, too!
While out on a walk in my Boston area neighborhood, I came across an 1842 Greek Revival cottage for sale. I immediately fell in love with the possibilities. Join me on my journey of imagining all the possibilities while I renovate and furnish my cottage in the city.